New species and new records in Agarista (Ericaceae) from the Peruvian Andes

• Published in: Nordic journal of botany Vol. 2025; no. 9
• Main Authors: Dalastra, Claudenice Hilda, Fritsch, Peter W., Gostel, Morgan R., Heiden, Gustavo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2025
• Subjects: endemism; Lyonieae; new record; new species; tropical mountains; Vaccinioideae
• ISSN: 0107-055X; 1756-1051
• DOI: 10.1002/njb.04769

Agarista (Ericaceae) is currently represented in Peru by three species. Here, we update this number to five, adding new taxa based on the recognition of a taxonomic novelty and new records. The new species Agarista eugeniifolia differs from all congeneric species by an abaxially sulcate midvein. It is only known from two locations in the province of San Marcos in Cajamarca Department, and the province of Huamachuco in La Liberdad Department. We also report A. mexicana var. mexicana as a newly recorded species and variety for both South America and Peru, with remarkable similarity to the disjunct nominate variety from Mesoamerica and noteworthy differences regarding leaf shape and short fascicle‐like inflorescences in comparison to the other Peruvian Agarista species. Along with morphological diagnosis, description, and risk assessment of the new species, we provide a key to identify the Agarista from Peru, a map with the geographic distribution of the five species occurring in the country, illustrations, and taxonomic notes.